Pages tagged "Legal Cafe"

Join Us in Creating More Just and Resilient Economies

Posted on Blog by · March 31, 2014 12:52 PM

Happy Spring, SELC supporters! We’ve been busy preparing the soil of a new legal landscape that supports community resilience. Will you help us sow seeds of resilience this spring?

It's SELC's Spring Membership Campaign!

Help us legalize sharing and grow the movement for more just and resilient economies - join our Community TODAY by becoming a SELC Community Member!

Help Us Reach Our Goal: 224 New Community Members

Like a community-supported farm, SELC thrives when our community invests in our work - whether that is an investment of time or money. That’s why we are excited to launch our new Community Membership Campaign! By becoming a SELC Founding Member, you can turn our advocacy campaigns into new laws, grow our community of passionate new economy advocates, and get special discounts and invitations to future SELC events and workshops!

SELC's Spring Newsletter

Posted on Blog by · March 25, 2014 10:20 AM

Read about how SELC is revolutionizing legal services and cultivating a new legal landscape this Spring!

Housing Program Projects and Resources

Posted on Housing by · March 12, 2014 2:20 PM

Legal Resource Library

We conduct legal research on land and housing issues and publish easy-to-read legal information on our online legal resource library - CommunityHousingLaw.org. This website is still a work in progress, so stay tuned for more information on starting housing cooperatives, community land trusts, and other forms of shared, cooperative, and equitable housing!

Incubation of East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative:

In partnership with the People of Color Sustainable Housing Network, the Law Center is piloting a new model of collective land ownership that mobilizes community capital to preserve affordable and democratically controlled housing and commercial spaces. Read more about this model on our PREC Pilot Project page, or visit EBPREC’s website.

Supporting Permanently Affordable Housing

In this video, the Northern California Land Trust, Oakland Community Land Trust, and the Law Center cover the legal nuts and bolts of permanently affordable/shared equity housing, including different legal models and funding mechanisms to remove housing from the speculative market.

Aging Cooperatively

Elders deserve to live with housing security in a community of their choosing and retain self-determination for as long as possible. The Sustainable Economies Law Center is increasing its legal support for cooperatively-owned, resident-controlled housing options for seniors. That's why we've brought on a Borchard Fellow for Law & Aging, Julie Gilgoff, to help realize this vision. To find out more, please visit our Aging Cooperatively webpage.

Legal Services at the Resilient Communities Legal Cafe

The Resilient Communities Legal Cafe provides direct legal advice, workshops, teach-ins, discussions, and legal services supporting the creation of:

worker cooperatives
food cooperatives
urban farms
land trusts
housing cooperatives
local investment initiatives

community-supported enterprises
social enterprises
micro-enterprises
cottage industries
time banks
local currencies
and more!

Find the dates and locations for each Legal Cafe on our Legal Cafe events calendar.

Teach-ins at the Legal Cafe

Our Teach-ins provide practical, participatory, and action oriented discussions around food, housing, livelihoods, transportation, and more! Many of our most popular teach-ins focus on housing co-ownership, innovative ways of financing land and housing, and more. Check our events calendar for upcoming events and teach-ins!

Past Teach-ins have included:

Legal Basics: How to Start an Ecovillage with Tony Sirna
The Gritty, Moral Solution to the Housing Crisis with David Giesen
Legalizing Tiny Homes: The Ten-Year Plan

Legal Guides

Chapter 9 of the Law Center’s book, Practicing Law in the Sharing Economy, focuses on legal tools for the creation of more economically sustainable housing models.

Legal Case Studies

The Law Center is creating detailed legal case studies of communities and housing solutions that emphasize sharing, affordability, and sustainability. This work looks particularly at models of shared housing, including cohousing communities, ecovillages, and housing cooperatives. The legal case studies are designed to allow other groups to replicate existing housing models. Click here for one legal case study by the Sustainable Economies Law Center.

Posted on Legal Cafe by · March 04, 2014 12:00 PM

Legal Cafe Dates and Locations

Please find all the dates and locations of the Law Center's Resilient Communities Legal Cafes and Teach-ins below. You can also view all of our events, including workshops, trainings, Happy Hours, and more on SELC's events page by clicking here. We look forward to seeing you at a future Law Center event where we provide not only resources but create the community relationships that will build the new economy!

See all events

Cooperatives and Education

Posted on Blog by · January 23, 2014 11:56 AM

The Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC), Project Equity, and the Green Collar Communities Clinic (GC3) invited cooperative members, developers, and supporters to join us in a brainstorming discussion about ways to help Californians learn about cooperatives. The questions we used to prompt the discussion were:

How might K-12 schools, colleges, and graduate schools begin to incorporate education about cooperatives into their curricula?
What skills and knowledge should be included in a program to learn about cooperatives?
What policies might promote greater infusion of cooperative education into various levels of education?

We took notes (below) so we could share the insights that were brought forth during the discussion. We will integrate these and future ideas into the East Bay's very first Worker Cooperative Academy!

Posted on Resources by · December 25, 2013 11:55 PM

Bite-Sized Legal Guides

Have a legal question but not quite ready to read a full legal guide? These Bite-Sized Legal Guides are a great place to start!

¿Tiene una pregunta legal pero no está listo para leer una guía legal completa? ¡Estas Guías Legales Cortas son lugares excelentes para empezar! Desplácese hasta la parte inferior de la página para obtener recursos en español.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: These Bite-Sized Legal Guides have been prepared by Sustainable Economies Law Center staff and volunteers as handouts for the Resilient Communities Legal Cafe. The contents of the Guides should NOT be relied on as legal advice. Furthermore, some of this information could become outdated, laws may vary from place to place, and although we've tried to collect accurate information and give the laws our best interpretation, some information in these Bite-Sized Legal Guides could be incorrect or subject to different interpretations by courts and regulators. We hope that's not the case, but, what can we say? Law is complicated stuff! That's why we STRONGLY recommend that you consult with an attorney before using this information.

Worker Cooperatives

How to Choose an Entity for Your Cooperative will help you choose between filing as an LLC or as a Cooperative Corporation.

In How to Form a Cooperative Corporation, we provide a step-by-step guide to forming a California Cooperative Corporation.

In How to Finance a Worker Cooperative, we explore ways for worker-coops to obtain financing through internal equity, loans, government loans, & outside equity.

In How to Make Decisions in a Cooperative, we explore the different ways coops navigate making decisions in a democratic workplace.

In How to File Taxes as a Subchapter T Cooperative, we explore how cooperatives can avoid the double tax by deducting patronage dividends.

In How to Convert Your Existing Business Into a Cooperative, we explore the significant potential advantages of converting traditional capitalist ownership structures into worker cooperatives.

Nonprofits

In How to Form a Nonprofit Organization, we lay out the steps to forming a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

In this Bite-Sized Legal Guide, we explore the legal considerations for becoming a worker self-directed nonprofit.

In How to Receive Grants and Donations Through Fiscal Sponsor, we explore the pros and cons of finding a fiscal sponsor vs. forming a 501c3.

In 10 Things to Consider When Starting a Fiscally Sponsored Project with a Partner, we provide the skeleton to your future "Co-Director Agreement."

In How to Exit a Fiscal Sponsorship, we outline steps that a fiscally sponsored project will typically undergo to become an independent nonprofit corporation.

In this Bite-Sized Legal Guide, we explain what an unincorporated association is and outline the steps to operate as a nonprofit unincorporated association.

In How to Navigate Conflicts of Interest in Your Nonprofit, we explore how nonprofit corporations or associations can design a conflict of interest policy to meet their needs and comply with the law.

In this Bite-Sized Legal Guide, we explore the difference between a public charity and a private foundation and how to apply the IRS's public support test.

In this Bite-Sized Legal Guide, we explain how nonprofit public benefit corporations can pay their board of directors.

Food and Farming

In How to Start a Homemade Food Business, we explore the California homemade food law and provide guidelines for starting a homemade food business.

In How to Become a Personal Chef in California, we explore the certifications and permits you'll need to become a personal chef in California.

In How to Create an Accessible Urban Garden, we explore methods for increasing access to urban farms.

In How to Operate a Pushcart, we explore how to operate a pushcart under Oakland's pilot mobile vending program.

In How to Sell Eggs, we explore the rules for small-scale egg production and sale in California.

In How to Sell Produce From Your Small Farm, Community Garden, or Backyard, we explore rules for selling urban grown produce & foraged food.

In How to Become an Organic Producer, we explore the legal definition and requirements for "organic," who can (and must) be certified organic, how you can become a certified organic producer in California, and how to label organic products.

In How to Navigate Employment Law for Food Enterprises, we explore the definitions, rights, and responsibilities of volunteers, employees, independent contractors, and employers.

Employment Law

In this Bite-Sized Legal Guide, we provide an analysis of both federal and state employment laws, and how they might impact caregiving registries.

In this Bite-Sized Legal Guide, we help you comply with new employment law AB5. Learn what makes a new hire an independent contractor or an employee.

In Having Employees, we list some of the basic things you need to do and know to get set up as an employer.

In Who is Not an Employee, we explain the difference between unpaid interns, partners/owners, independent contractors, and volunteers.

In this Bite-Sized Legal Guide, we help you figure out what to do if cooperative members need to be treated as employees under the law.

In How to Deal with Workers' Compensation Insurance, we discuss cost, exemptions, brokers, and more!

In this Bite-Sized Legal Guide, we cover federal and California law on how to mitigate the risk that nonprofit volunteers will be seen as employees.

Miscellaneous

In How to Incorporate as an LLC or Partnership, we explore some steps to establish limited liability entities.

In How to File Doing Business As ("DBA"), we explain the purpose of a DBA and link to resources that provide a step-by-step guide of how to file.

In How to Establish a Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401(k), we explore how to pull your retirement savings out of Wall Street and invest it in things that enrich your local community.

In How to Navigate Trademark Law, we explore the basics of trademark law, including trademark registration, eligibility for trademark protection, trademark infringement, and more.

In How to Raise Capital, we explore the common exemptions to federal and state securities law that can be used when raising capital for your enterprise.

In this Bite-Sized Legal Guide, we explore how to run a cooperative child care arrangement in California.

General business license requirements vary from city to city. In Business Licenses for Gig Workers, we answer questions specific to Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, and Richmond.

In How to Work With Lawyers, we explore some things to consider before seeking legal advice.

In this Bite-Sized Legal Guide, we provide a step by step guide to obtaining a contractors license.

In California LLC State Taxes & Fees, we define what an LLC is and explain when and how to file taxes & fees as an LLC.

Who needs a seller's permit? How do you obtain one? Find the answers in this Bite-Sized Legal Guide.

Comprehensive General Liability Insurance protects orgs from legal liability arising from certain risks when those harmed sue the organization. Click here to learn more!

Radical Real Estate Law

The welfare exemption is a property tax exemption for certain properties owned by nonprofits. Click here to learn more!

There are certain benefits to using the nonprofit entity form and other benefits to using the cooperative entity form. Click here to learn more!

People in California, you can transfer title to a property without a real estate agent, title, or escrow company. Click here to learn more!

The system makes it difficult to remove your home from the speculative market. Here are some resources to begin your long journey.

See other radical real estate resources here.

En Español:

AVISO LEGAL: Estas Guías Legales Cortas han sido preparadas por personal y voluntarios del Sustainable Economies Law Center como documentos para el Café Legal de Comunidades Resilientes. El contenido de las Guías NO se debe confiar como asesoramiento legal. Además, parte de esta información podría quedar obsoleta, las leyes pueden variar de un lugar a otro, y aunque hemos intentado recopilar información precisa y dar a las leyes nuestra mejor interpretación, parte de la información en estas Guías legales de tamaño reducido podría ser incorrecta o estar sujeta a diferentes interpretaciones de los tribunales y los reguladores. Esperamos que ese no sea el caso, pero, ¿qué podemos decir? ¡La ley es algo complicado! Es por eso que recomendamos encarecidamente que consulte a un abogado antes de utilizar esta información.

En esta Guía Legal, exploramos la ley de comida casera de California y las reglas de la venta de comida casera.

En esta Guía Legal, exploramos las reglas de la producción y la venta de huevos a pequeña escala en California.

En esta Guía Legal, exploramos las reglas de California para vender productos cultivados en zonas urbanas, incluida la comida forrajera.

Posted on Programs by · December 15, 2013 9:22 PM

Resilient Communities Legal Cafe

We envision living in a society where reliable and affordable legal support is available to all those creating the transition to resilient local economies.

The Resilient Communities Legal Cafe is a first-come, first-serve, donation-based legal advice session. You might be asked to wait, but have no fear! There are always snacks, drinks, collaborative discussions, and the Resilient Communities Law Library to peruse. For walk-in clinics, registration closes 40 minutes before the end-time listed; feel free to come at anytime before registration closes to receive your legal advice and consultation from our competent staff and volunteer attorneys. We e-mail appointment slots to those who RSVP to online legal cafes.

Our award-winning Resilient Communities Legal Cafes rotate locations and happen three times per month, mostly near BART stations in Oakland, Berkeley, and Richmond.

If you need advice about starting a worker-owned cooperative, converting an existing business into a cooperative, organizing a housing cooperative, founding a nonprofit or other social enterprise, then our Legal Cafe is for you! Here are some questions we will be prepared to answer:

❖ Radical real estate law: How to form a housing cooperative, real estate cooperative, or nonprofit housing?
❖ Legal formation for small businesses: What are the regulations and requirements to have your organization legally function?
❖ Legal entity choice: Should your org be a for profit, non-profit, and which legal entity fits best with your vision?
❖ Employment law: Whether you're an employer, employee, or a cooperative, we can answer questions on how to prevent or resolve issues?
❖ Tax law: What are the ways to receive tax exemption for your org?
❖ Contracts: Contract review, drafting, and negotiation
❖ Liability issues: What are your governance requirements to avoid liability?
❖ Environmental law: Do you have questions about how to create more green spaces for your community?
❖ Worker Self Directed Nonprofits: How can you run your nonprofit organization more like a worker-owned cooperative?

RSVP for upcoming cafes and teach-ins on our Legal Cafe events calendar to ensure your place at the cafe. We also accept walk-ins! If RSVPs are sold out, don't let that stop you from coming! You are welcome to drop in and wait for an attorney as well.

Are You A Lawyer or Law Student?

Looking for a community of like minded legal professionals cultivating the legal roots of just and resilient economies? Then you're in the right place! Sign up to volunteer at our Resilient Communities Legal Cafe or level up your legal expertise by watching videos of our MCLE workshops.

Meet Us at the Legal Cafe: Interview with Chris Tittle, Director of Organizational Resilience

Posted on In the News by · October 22, 2013 9:41 PM

"The concept of resilience is about learning from the natural world how to adapt and respond to change. In a time of so many converging transitions – in the regenerative capacity of the Earth, in the ways we meet our individual and collective needs, in how we relate to the larger web of life around us – how can we build our collective capacity to adjust and co-evolve in response to changing conditions around us? In the social and economic context, resilience is about creating more culturally appropriate and community-determined ways of meeting our needs, and re-embedding our economies in real human relationships."

Top 10 Crusaders in the Food Movement -- Lawyer Edition

Posted on In the News by · June 26, 2013 12:00 PM

1) Janelle Orsi, executive director of the Sustainable Economies Law Center, which hosts regular "legal cafes" to offer free advice for small farmers, food entrepreneurs, and others creating positive alternatives. While their work is localized to California, it's a wonderful model to follow. (See her book, Practicing Law in the Sharing Economy.) @JanelleOrsi

SELC Launches the Resilient Communitie Legal Cafe!

Posted on Blog by · November 04, 2012 11:59 AM

SELC is launching a six-month pilot project called the Resilient Communities Legal Cafe in winter 2013!

Find all Dates, Times, and Locations Here!

The Resilient Communities Legal Cafe provides direct legal support to individuals and groups who are working to create new solutions for resilient local economies in Oakland, Berkeley, and the greater East Bay community. We're currently running the Legal Cafe as a 6-month pilot program between February and August 2013 as a joint effort of SELC and the Green-Collar Communities Clinic (a project of the East Bay Community Law Center).

Why The Resilient Communities Legal Cafe?

SELC believes that because our current economic systems prioritize corporate profits over community resilience, they destroy opportunities for satisfying and sustainable work, damage the environment that sustains us, and unravel our sense of connection to one another. That's why SELC is committed to providing reliable, affordable, and accessible legal information and advice to the people who are creating alternative economic systems. Through this work, we can help form the enterprises and entrepreneurs that will ring in the new economy.

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